Ray Rice is using last season’s adversity as fuel for a redemption campaign in 2014.

The Ravens’ running back battled a hip injury, which limited his ability to make cuts and accelerate. The injury persisted all season and hindered Rice’s ability to explode for big gains.

“I played through an injury and I probably should have thought twice about it, but I’m glad I was able to push through the season and not have any surgical procedures,” said Rice, who was speaking at an event promoting BODYARMOR Superdrink. “One thing I know my body needed was rest, and we had a tough turnaround, and we didn’t do what we wanted to this year, but I’m positive that things are looking better for next year already. We’ll get this thing rolling again."

For an offense that is built around the run, the Ravens were never able to adapt to Juan Castillo’s zone-based schemes. The Ravens’ rushing offense finished last in the NFL in yards per carry. Castillo, who was hired to be the team’s run game coordinator, has been tabbed as the offensive line coach for next season. The Ravens’ running game should be buoyed by the hiring of offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak.

Kubiak’s stretch-zone scheme suits the Ravens’ personnel more naturally. Opposed to relying on the passing game of Joe Flacco, Kubiak prefers balance and using the run to set up the pass. The offensive linemen will be called upon to move laterally, and the running backs must thrive in a one-cut system.

Rice is only 27 years old, so he shouldn't be hitting the wall age-wise. It sounds as if he never fully recovered from the hip injury, so a bounce back season is entirely possible if he can stay healthy in 2014. Kubiak's arrival should help as well.

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco reiterated after Sunday's regular-season finale that his sprained left knee won't need surgery this offseason.

"I’m not going to have to get anything done," Flacco said. "It was just my MCL and it will heal on its own."

It will be much-deserved rest, considering the amount of hits that Flacco has taken this season. Flacco was sacked 48 times in 2013, and only Miami's Ryan Tannehill (58) was sacked more.

This was the most sacks any Ravens quarterback has taken in team history. The previous high was 40 sacks, which Flacco set in 2010.

In Sunday's regular-season finale at Cincinnati, Flacco was sacked two times and hit seven times. He came off the field limping when he was hit in the end zone with about nine minutes left in the second quarter.

Ravens QB Joe Flacco on his knee: "It feels better. It felt really good on gameday. A little sore yesterday and today, but it feels a lot better."

Joe Flacco is good to go for a nice matchup with the Patriots. He'll wear a brace so his mobility may be further limited.

Despite being listed as questionable — technically, 50-50 — to play on Sunday against the Patriots, Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco remains expected to play despite a knee injury suffered Monday night in Detroit.

Per a league source, Flacco “feels strongly” about playing, and he won’t play only if “something happens” to the knee on Saturday.

It’s possible, but not likely, that Flacco could twist or wrench or bang the knee in a way that exacerbates the mild MCL sprain, but assuming nothing freaky happens Flacco will suit up and play vs. New England. Despite the good matchup, Flacco is only 19th on our list of QBs this week making him a low-end QB2 option.

Ravens QB Joe Flacco (knee, questionable) took limited practice reps all week and is questionable for Week 16. Flacco was able to finish the game against the Lions, so we expect him to play in a nice matchup with the Patriots. He apparently has a “mild” MCL sprain, but he should be able to play through it.

Packers QB Aaron Rodgers is officially out.

This is not surprising news given the way this week has gone. Owners waiting on Rodgers will have to continue to put a band aid on the QB position. Kirk Cousins, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Ryan Tannehill, Joe Flacco and Jason Campbell are all decent-to-good streaming options. Even Matt Flynn and Matt Cassel are worth consideration. Check our QB rankings to see how we believe these players will perform this week.

Ravens QB Joe Flacco (knee) took limited practice reps again Thursday. Flacco was able to finish the game against the Lions, so we expect him to play in a nice matchup with the Patriots. He apparently has a “mild” MCL sprain, but he should be able to play through it.

Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco walked to the interview room following the Ravens’ 18-16 victory over the Detroit Lions with a slight limp but looking significantly better than he did after he took a helmet to his left knee about midway through the fourth quarter.

“It wasn’t really bothering me once the initial hit,” Flacco said. “I was probably more scared than anything from just what I felt and also just trying to get a couple of yards out of it. Yeah, it feels fine. It feels strong.”

Asked if he may need more testing on his left knee, Flacco said, “I have no idea. I’ll have to talk to the trainers and see what the protocol is. I’m not used to anything like this.”

Flacco took a helmet to the knee in the fourth quarter. He has started every game in his NFL career, a streak that reached 107 on Monday night, the story said. The piece also pointed out that no one around the team seemed concerned about his status for next week, a home game against the Patriots, but it's probably something to keep an eye on as Flacco should be a QB2 option.

Ravens

Omar Brown DB
Ryan Jensen C
Bernard Scott RB
John Simon LB
Deonte Thompson WR
Brynden Trawick DB
Brandon Williams DT

Lions

Leroy Harris C
Chris Houston CB
Mikel Leshoure RB
Kellen Moore QB
Darius Slay CB

Reggie Bush (calf) is good to go for Monday Night Football and per Adam Schefter reported that Bush is expected to get his usual amount of work this week. Due to workload/injury concerns heading into Sunday, Bush was our #20 RB in standard formats. If he plays a full game, he should produce solid RB2 numbers (at a minimum). On the defensive side of the ball, the Lions are down their two starting corners, Houston and Slay, so the table is set for Joe Flacco and the Baltimore receivers.